To think this can't be true about play centres?

[JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]

Seen this this morning on Facebook from a trampoline park/soft play centre - surely it can't be true? Too many safeguarding issues - My kids are 5 and 8 and I wouldn't leave them alone inside a play centre. I'd sit in the cafe/seating area and look out for them but parents can't possibly be expected to leave their 4+ year olds (they clarify in the comments that it only applies to kids 4 and over) alone?

It's not different to sending your child to any sort of children's club surely (Rainbows, cubs, gymnastics, football ...) You either leave your child at the club, or stand at the side and watch (and your child doesn't interact with you during the session).

I assume it's because of Covid rules that only organised clubs are allowed. This is what they have to do to make the club "organised". As PP said, if you're not happy, then don't take your child.

How do you know the staff aren't first aid trained and DBSed?
My DCs wouldn't cope with this but I can see many would be fine. DS did trampolining classes for a while and I sat in the hall but the teachers were in charge of the actual bouncing.

To clarify: this is NOT for 'classes' but for free play sessions. Sessions have been limited to 2 hours but this is for free play

@ChocOrange1

Afterschool not aftershock

Wish i could go to a few aftershock sessions these days

@ineedaholidaynow

If you are sitting in the inside cafe how would that stop a child getting hurt on the trampoline?

Because I can watch them from where I sit

@ineedaholidaynow

If you are sitting in the inside cafe how would that stop a child getting hurt on the trampoline?

Exactly what I was thinking. How is sitting outside during a supervised bounce any different to sitting in the cafe. If the child is going to get injured where you're sitting won't prevent that.

I think that still can come under afterschool care/classes/sessions. As long as they're supervised.

OP, people aren't being arsey at all. You've misread what the social media post is about. It's not a normal play session. Parents are outside so any kid pissing about will be sent out. I'd imagine covid guidelines state few kids in at a time anyway.

If my kids were into this type of thing. I'd be supporting the centre by booking. But you are right in that I don't think it's suitable for younger children. Having said that, younger children are fine if it's age restricted so only their age group are in during the session.

Which I know doesn't guarantee they don't get hurt - such is the risk of trampoline parks - but if they are hurt or doing something they shouldn't I can put a stop to it. A huge difference to if I'm not in the building

It says supervised bounce not free play?

It's not free play sessions. They are supervised. It will be for a limited number of kids. Yes not a class. But still supervised.

@user1471530109 as I've said already, it is a normal play session. They clarified in the comments, and they don't do any 'activity' based sessions (like Brownies or ballet type things) anyway

@Northernsoullover that just means they have staff on hand. Imagine a soft play centre with free play and no parents just staff. My point is that can't be safe?

It will be to get round the fact that in terms of indoor children’s activities, only “organised activities” are allowed from next week.
Otherwise they can’t open at all.
Things should revert to normal on may 17th albeit probably with a cap on numbers.
I wouldn’t be comfortable, and it’s definitely not the same as keeping a watchful eye from the cafe area.

[quote JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]@user1471530109 yes my kids go to theatre group alone but with staff who are DBS checked, first aid trained and qualified to look after children. I doubt all soft play centre staff have the same qualifications [/quote]
All people working anywhere that caters for children have to have a full DBS. The facility will have first aid trained staff. They will be as qualified in looking after children as the staff who run your theatre group.
Do you not think that the centre is following the rules over safe opening? After months of no income, of course they’re going to come up with their own set of rules which is guaranteed to put off many parents from sending their kids in.
As I said, no ones forcing your children to go...

Then don’t go, it’s very simple

I also think it potentially discriminates against SEN children who do need supervising no matter what their age 🤷‍♀️

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Then don’t go, it’s very simple

Of course it is. We can still discuss it though

[quote JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]@Northernsoullover that just means they have staff on hand. Imagine a soft play centre with free play and no parents just staff. My point is that can't be safe? [/quote]
Of course it can be safe. The children will be supervised on the equipment and reprimanded if doing something unsafe.

The staff will probably be a lot more vigilant than a parent 'supervising' from the cafe who is probably drinking a coffee and scrolling through their phone.

They will have done risk assessments (for covid and for general safety) staff to child ratios and first aiders.

Because I can watch them from where I sit

My guess is that you’ve got lightening speed reactions that enable you to get from your seat in the cafe and able to prevent your child from getting bounced on by another child in the blink of an eye.

Sitting in the cafe and being able to see your child just means you can watch them getting bounced on. Not prevent it from happening.

God it's SO boring when people say dOnT gO tHEn.

I'm not concerned about going - I'm asking if this sounds right. Because to me, letting a load of 4 year olds run around soft play and on trampolines while their parents sit in the car outside doesn't seem like a particularly good idea but apparently I'm in a minority

I’m not sure it’s that surprising. They will be supervised by staff who would get you if needed. They always have staff who make sure children are playing safely.

If you are going to get hurt at trampoline park I assume it would be something that would happen very quickly so you would still not be much use sitting in the inside cafe.

The notice says they are supervised sessions so assume staff will be close by the children to ensure they stick to the rules for the session (only 1 person in a particular area etc). They will limit the number of children and keep to certain ratios.

Our scout group hired a trampoline place for a supervised session (pre-COVID) and that is what happened at that session. Parents could sit in the cafe (but that was set back from the trampolines etc) so no way I could have prevented an accident from where I was, and the staff (not the scout leaders) supervised the session.

@Soontobe60 I added a post after that addressing that, whilst injury can't be prevented in trampoline parks (even in normal times if you follow your child around the whole time), if it happens because I'm always watching my own child I can react quickly if they are hurt or doing something they shouldn't